According to a New York Times article, Eric Rimm, a Harvard professor at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said the recommended "healthy" serving of French fries is six. Not six servings. Six fries. Calling them "starch bombs," Rimm says, "I think it would be nice if your meal came with a side salad and six French fries." For what it's worth, The Takeout reports that a USDA approved serving of French fries is 12 fries. On Twitter, Dr. Rimm responded to the naysayers with a subtle defense, but in this world of extremes, you're either pro-French fries, or a monster: In a way, he's got a point. A large order of fries at McDonald's clocks in at 510 calories, while Five Guys' large portion is a staggering 1,314 calories. Additionally, a study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition referenced in the original Times piece also notes that those who partook in fried potatoes two to three times a week were at a higher risk of mortality. While that is a very important statistic, it raises another question: What exactly are you living for, anyway? So if you want to live a long time in a world that wants you to stop at six beautiful, crispy pillars of joy, you'll just be leaving more fries for the rest of us.

According to a New York Times article, Eric Rimm, a Harvard professor at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said the recommended "healthy" serving of French fries is six. Not six servings. Six fries.

Calling them "starch bombs," Rimm says, "I think it would be nice if your meal came with a side salad and six French fries."

For what it's worth, The Takeout reports that a USDA approved serving of French fries is 12 fries. On Twitter, Dr. Rimm responded to the naysayers with a subtle defense, but in this world of extremes, you're either pro-French fries, or a monster:

My suggestion to the NYTimes was that perhaps restaurants should offer a smaller portion size as a tantalizing option to satisfy those with a taste for fries but who don’t want the starch bomb

In a way, he's got a point. A large order of fries at McDonald's clocks in at 510 calories, while Five Guys' large portion is a staggering 1,314 calories. Additionally, a study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition referenced in the original Times piece also notes that those who partook in fried potatoes two to three times a week were at a higher risk of mortality. While that is a very important statistic, it raises another question: What exactly are you living for, anyway?

So if you want to live a long time in a world that wants you to stop at six beautiful, crispy pillars of joy, you'll just be leaving more fries for the rest of us.